Fish-line reel.



J. A. RIGKETTS.

FISH LINE REEL.

APPLIOATION FILED 111.11.29,1911.

1,038,203. Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

.2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

f l Arzu/Mfr J. A. RI'GKETTS.

FISH LINE REEL.

-APPLIOATION FILED MAR.29,1911.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

Ma //VMLW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. RICKETTS, 0F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

FISH-LIN E REEL.

To all whom 'it may concern.' i

Be it known that I, JOHN A. RIGKETTS, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe, in

the State of New York, have invented new and .useful Improvements in Fish-Line Reels, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description. 'Thisinvention relates to certain improvements in lish line reels of the class set forth in my pending application #538,612 filed January 18, 1910 in which rotary motion is imparted to the reel by reciprocatory motion of the reel-supporting frame along and upon the rod.

This reel constitutes a unitary article of manufacture separate from the rod vso that it may be applied to any fish rod having the usual reel-clamping sleeves whereby it may be easily and quickly removed or replaced at will without in any way altering or re'- constructing any part of the pole or rod. It therefore follows that the reel roper or spool as it is commonly termed) must be located some distance to one side of the axis of the rod and'preferably at right angles thereto so that when the line is threaded through the eyelets on the rod, its winding and unwinding is confined more to the inner end of the spool nearest the rod, or in otherv words its tendency is to pile up at one end ofthe reel during the winding operation, thereby utilizing only a portion of the spool. lOne of the objects of my present invention 4is' to automatically and evenly distribute the winding and unwinding of the line over the entire length of the spool and thereby permit a more uniform tension of the line without liability of becoming caught or tangled on the reel. v

Another object is to provide simple means adjustable atwill for causing the reel to operate freely or under a slight drag and also with or without an audible click.

A further object is to provide a slip connection between the spool and its driving spindle for permitting an independent but retarded action of the spool even though the clutch mechanism may be in its operative position for connect-ing the reel to its drivlng mechanism so as to prevent the line from breaking or the hook from pulli-ng out of the Vflesh of the ish in case the latter should make a sudden plunge for liberty and alsol Specification of LettersvPatent. Application med March a9, 1911.l serial No. 617,716. l l

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

to prevent breakage of the line under the same or any other conditionsltending to overtension such line.

A still further Object is to prvidesimpie' means for detachably locking one end of the of a portion of aiish rod showing my imspectively a side elevation and a top plan Y proved reel thereon, the dotted lines in Fig.

l showing the reel frame as shifted from its normal back position to its forward position;

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged lengthwise and transverse sectional views of the same reel taken respectively on lines 3-3' and 4 4 Flg. 2. F 1g. '5 is an enlarged inverted sec- Fig. 1. showing more particularly the gear trains' and ratchet actions, va portion of thek toothed rack along which the reel is movable being shown in inverted plan. Figs. 6 and 7 are inverted plan views 'of the outer end `tional view of the reel takenon line. 5--5,l

cap of the reel supporting frame showing Y the mechanism for controlling the click, drag and reel-.release in diferent positions and also showing the reel hub and driving shaft in section, said mechanism being shown in its clicking position in Fig. 6 and l in its reel releasing position in Fig. 7 Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view taken on line 8-8 Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is an. inverted plan of the inner end of a portion of the spool showing the ratchet retarding action constituting the slip connection between the spool flanges and head. Fig. l() is an elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the rod showing the means for detach'ably clamping one end of the toothed rack thereto. Fig. 1l is a transverse sectional view through the clamping foot and adjacent portion V'of the toothed rack taken on line 11-11 Fig. l0.

The line reeling mechanism. forming the subject matter of my invention may be applied? to any fish rod as -ahaving the usual xed clamping sleeve and movable sleeve -cfor receiving and retaining a detachable foot *d which is preferably located near the handle of the rod, said line reeling mechanism comprising a toothed,

rack -l-`- extending some distance lengthwise of the rod and having one end detachably secured to thev clamping foot UZ- and A tion lof the rod lleaving a clear open same -len to detach -thereto by a series of, in

between 'the rack -1- and rod for the operationof suitable mechanism hereinafter described.. The outer -portion of the clamping foot -dis reduced in width forming seats or shoulders -3- for the adjacent end of the rack -1- and is provided with a forwardly projecting li -4- and lengthwise grooves -5, the atter serving to receive a furcated locking member -6- which togetherjwith the lip -4- serves to hold the adjacent end of the rack --1- in operative connection with the glamping foot -das best seen in Figs. 10- and 11. This end of the toothed rack '-1- is provided with a lengthwise slot -"(-v ofl substantially ,the same transverse width as the reduced oradapted to receive and is substantially the h as -said reduced portion less the length o the overlapping lip 4 so that when the locking member -6-` is withdrawn from its ocking position, the rear end of the foot 0lmay be rocked downwardly and then drawn rearwardly to detach the foot from the toothed rack, the object of which is to facilitate packing of the parts for storage or transportation, it being understood, of course, that in order the foot fromlthe rack in the manner described, it is first necessary to withdraw the clamping sleeve c rearwardly to permit the foot to be withdrawn from the other clamping sleeve -A-b-, thereby drawing the rack -1- and its clamping member 24- in the same direction along the rod and permitting the rear end of the rack to 'c be raised sufficiently to permit the removal of the clamping shoe or foot.

Slidably mounted upon the toothed rack 1 is a substantially circular reel-supporting frame comprising a gear case -8- andan outer cap 9 spaced some distance apart from the Vgear case and connected this instance four', spacing Vmembers 10 arranged in airs clrcumferentially around the margin o the frame equi-distant apart and at opposite sides of the toothed rack -1--.

The gear case -8- preferably comprises inner and outer plates -11- and -12-.

located respectively beneath and above the rack 1 and connected b a circular wall -13- having openings in iametrically opposite sides thereof for the reception of the toothed rack 1-. This rack is perferably rovided with central lengthwise grooves 1n lts inner and outer faces for the reception of guide members 1% and -15- on the inner and outerplates -11- and 12-' for guiding the reel-supporting frame in its reciprocatory movement along said rack.

I preferably provide both of the opposite lengthwise edges of the rack -1- with teeth extending substantially the entire length thereof, said length being preferably two and one-half or three times the diameter of the reel so as to afford a comparatively long stroke in the operation of winding the line on the spool in a manner presently described. j l

Spool operating mechanism.-Rotatably mounted with the reel-supporting frame between the gear case -8- and cap -9- is a reel member or spool consisting, in this instance, of vopposite end Aheads or sheet metal flanges .-16- which are loosely mounted upon a tubular hub -17- and are held a fixed distance apart by spacing members -18- as best seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

The end heads 'or flanges -16- of the reel-are preferably cup-shape or concavoconvex with their convex sides facing each other and theirmargnal edges surrounded by suitable flanges on the lnner and outer plates 12 and -9- in such manner as to permit the spool to rotate freely therein and at the same time preventing any liability of the line as -fbecoming caught between the end heads of the spool and adj acent portions of the frame.

The opposite ends of the hub -17- are journaled in suitable bearings in the outer and innerplates -9- and -12- of the main support-ing frame and the. hub adapted to be rotated in a manner hereinafter described as the reel-supporting frame is moved lengthwise of the toothed rack -1-.

The spacing members -18- are arranged circumferentially around the hub -17- a uniform distance apart and some distance within the periphery of the heads or flan es -16 and constitute the main sup ort or the line' f, one end of which is astened to one of the spacing members so as to positively wind the line thereon as the reel is rotated.

Journaled within the tubular hub -17- is a driving ,shaft or spindle -20- having an axially movable section -21- which is spl-ined or feathered to the section 20- so as to rotate therewith and at the'same 'time is free to move axially. The section --21- extends outwardly through and some distance beyond the outer end of the tubular hub -17- and is provided with a clutch face'A--QQ- movable into and out of engagement with a corresponding clutch face Q3-'f on theadjacent end of the hub -17 and is normally held out of engagement With said hub by means of an arm 24- having a forked extension 25 for direct engagement with the underside of the head of the shaft section 2l- One end of the sprin arm -24 is rigidly secured by suitable astening means to the outer face of the cap -9- some distance at one side of the shaft section -21- and Lossieoe 22- out of engagement with the corre? sponding clutch section Q3- of the head.

1T- and is adapted to be moved inwardly by pressure of the thumb or finger` to force said clutch sections into operative engagement and thereby l'ock the shaft 20 to ,the tubular head -4/17- for rotating the spool When rotary motion is transmitted to the shaft Rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft section 20- is .a gear -27- meshing withdiametrically opposite gears -28- which are loosely Journaled on. separate supporting spindles -29- and are connected by suitable ratchet wheels m30--i and pawls -31- to separate coaxial gears -32--. The gears 3% mesh with the teeth on opposite sides of the toothed rack --1- and are rigidly secured to their respective ratchet wheels -30- each of which together .with its corresponding pawl -81 is so arranged as to alternately'rotate the shaft *20- in the same direction as the reel-supporting frame is moved in opposite directions along the rack -1-. In order to `accomplish this result, the pawls -31- are pivotally mounted upon their respective gears -28- and together with the teeth of the corresponding ratchet wheels are arranged in' reverse relation as clearly shown in Fig. 5 so that when the reel frame is moved in one direction, the teeth of one of the 'ratchet wheels will engage the correspending pawl and thereby rotate the adi jacent gear 28m in" the same direction and the gear-27" and the driving shaftv -20 in the opposite direction and at the same time transmitting rotary motion to the opposite gear w-28- and causing its pawl 3lto trail over the teeth of the correspodingratchet wheel -30 and at the' same time allowing the adjacent ear -32-- to be rotated idly by reason o itsl engagement with the corresponding side of the rack -1--, the reverse operation taking place when the reel-supporting frame is moved in theopposite direction. It therefore follows that as the reel-supporting frame is moved forwardly and-backwardly .or in reverse directions along the toothed rack -1-, thegear 27 and its driving shaft -20- will be rotated in the same direction indicated by arrow.-X Fig. 5 and that when the clutch sections 22- and -23- are brought into engagement vwith each other by the depression of the spring arm --24`-, similar rotary motion in the same direction` will be transmitted to the reel for winding the line on the spacing members 18-.

The gears, ratchets and pawls thus far described for imparting rot-ary motion to the shaft -20 as the reel-supporting frame is reciprocated along the toothed rack -lare substantially identical with those shown, described and claimed in my pending a plication previously referred to and there ore need not be herein further illusltrated or described. The object in loosely mount-ing the spool heads --16- upon the tubular head --17-- 4is lto permit independent rotation of this portion" of the reel upon which the line is actually wound so as to prevent breaking of the line or tearing of the flesh of the fish when hooked in case such fish should make a sudden dash'for liberty on a slack line and in order to transmit rotary'motion from the hub -17 to the spool heads -16 under normal tension onthe line;

I provide the inner or lower end of the hub --l7- with a circular toothed member or gear -35- rigid thereon and having its teeth frictionally engaged by a pawl --36 which is pivoted at one end at -37- to the inner side of the 'inner head -l6- and having its opposite end also connected tact with the teeth of the wheel 35M as lbest seen in Figs. 53, 4 and 9. The tooth on the pawl 36 is located between the pivot 37 and the point of connection with the spring 38% and permits the spool heads --l6- to rotate under a frictionally retarded action in the direction indicated by arrow -Y F ig. 9 for unwinding the line from the reel under a comparatively strong pull or high tension on the line and at the same time forming a sufficiently positive drive to Wind the line on the reel under a normal tension. This independent action of the reel is therefore automatic and is useful only when the clutch members --22v and -23- are thrown into action during the operation of reelingthe line when hooked into a fish so as to more effectively prevent tearing out of the flesh of the fish or breaking of the line and at the same time producing a relatively loud safety click to warn the operator of the hooking of a fish or other object.

Glick, drag and release control-In addition to the abnormal drag and click of the reel produced by the action of the pawl -36-l on the gear 35%, another or somewhat lighter click and drag mechanism to get-her with the reel-releasing means are provided and adapted to be brought into action at will under normal condit1ons and for'this purpose the outer end of the tubu-v lar hub -17-, is provided with-a rigid gear or ratchet wheel ada ted to be.' engaged by a pawl -l1-- wh 1c togetherA with a pivoted pawl supporting member 4Q- are pivotally mounted upon a rock arm -43-. This rock arm 1s a suitable bearing -44- on t e inside of the cap l -9- concentric with the axls of the ltubular hub 17 and is provided with a` finger piece 4F- proecting outwardly through a circumferentia ly extendlngslot 46- in one side of said cap where 1t 1s easily accessible for rocking the plate in-opposite directions as best seen 1n Flgs. 6, 7 and 8.

pivotedby a screw -39'-.- to the rock arm or plate -43- some' dlstance one side of the linger piece 4=5 `and is normally pressed in one direction by a spring 18 to force the pawl 4l-'- into engagement with the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel -40,

y vsaid pawl 4lbeing also pivoted by a sprin screw -47' to its sup orting member -42 so as to have an in ependent moyement against the action of a retract-lng spring -49- -as shown more clearly in Figs. 6 and 7.`

The rock ar or plate -43- is adapted to be adjusted `y the finger piece -45- to three different positions, as, for exam le, the central position shown in Figs. 2 an 3 and to opposite sides thereof as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

A drag or brakeA member -.50- is pivotedat 51- to the inner 'side of the cam -43-. and is providedat its'inner end with a cam v521-4 which is movable into and out of registration with a. slot or opening -53.- in thecap -9 as the rock arm 4S- 1s shifted to and from its central position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and when in the latter position, the brake shoe is forced into fri-ctional cont-act with the outer face of the adjacent spool head -l6- by means of a spring -54- as best seen in Figs.A 3, 6, 7 and 8, thereby producing a slight retarding etl'ect upon the reel to keep the line under reasonable tension when the clutch sections 2Q-and -23- are disengaged one from the other. If, however, it is desired to wind the line on'the reel while the brake member is in this position at which time the arm -24. is depressed to throw the c utch members -22 and ,-23- into engagement with each other, the offset -26- on said arm will be brought into engagement with the cam -52, thereby depressing this end of the brake lever -50- to throw the braking shoe out of contact with the spool head -l6-,`thus permitting the spools to be operated with greater freedom as the rcel frame is vmoved back and forth along the toothed rack -lv-. j The slot -,-53-* is of just suflicient Width to per- 'permitting but when the'lever is shifted from its cen- 'tral position either to the right or to the left as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the cam -52- is depressed by riding against'the underside of the cap -9-, thereby forcing and holding position. .w46-I in one side of the lcap '-9-' therefore extends a. suiiicient distance beyond a radial line drawn through the opening -53- to permit the cam ,-52- to be moved into and out of registration with the opening -53- while the outer end of the pawl section -42- is spaced apart from the finger piece -45- a distance somewhat less than the length of the slot -46- so that when the plate 4S- is shifted to the clicking position shown in Fig. 6 the outer end of the pawl section 4Q- will enter or project into the slot 46- to allow the pawl -41- lto engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel -40-, while on the other hand as soon as the lever -43- is rocked from its clickin position shown in Fig. 6 to the position s iown in either Figs.l 3 or 7, the outer end of the pawl section -42- will` ride against theI inner face of the rim of the cap -9- and thereby force the pawl -41- out ing the brakemem'ber .-'50- from its brak- The circumferential slot of engagement with the ratchet wheel, thus i action ofthe brake -50- when moved to its central positionshown in Fig. 2 or permitting the free unretarded action of the reel when shifted to the position shown in Fig. 7, which latter may be termed the releasing position.

Line-laying mechanism- During the operation of wlnding and unwinding the line upon and from the reel, it is desirable to gradually shift the line from side to side thereof in order that it may be wound or unwound more uniformly thereon and for this purpose Ihave provided what may be termed a spooling mechanism consisting of a screw -GO--arranged parallel withy the axis of the reel preferably at the front side thereof and havlng its inner and outer ends journaled in suitable bearings on the outer and inner plates -9- and -12- of the reel-supporting frame, said screw being. engaged by a nut -61- having oppositely projecting fingers or arms -62, one at least of which extends across the line of travel of the line at the inside thereof. Secured to the inner Aend of the spindle is a pinion -63- meshing with a gear -64- which is journaled on the inner plate l2- and is provided with a coaxial pinion 65- meshing with one side of the toothed rack -1- so as to rotate the screw in reverse directions as the reel-supporting frame is moved back and forth along said toothed rack, therebymovin the nut -61- and its arm -62- outwardly and inwardly upon each forward and backward movement of 'the reel frame. The -portion of `the line 130 which is engaged by the arm 62'- is disposed at an angle with the axis of the rod and tends to hug closely to the outer face ofthe inner reel head -.-16-.'` The onlyfunction of the arm +62- is to shift this portion of the line outwardly along the reel and to allow it to gradually return toward the innerl end of the reel as the frame is moved back and forth along the rod, thereby distributing the line evenly throughout the entire length of the reel between the heads -l6-.

v The operation of my invention vhas been fully set forth in the foregoing description, and while I have shown and described the nut 61- and arm -.-62- as a means for shifting the line back and forth along -the reel, itis evident thft this nut and arm may be dispensed with and the line drawn against the opposite side of the threads of the screw which will perform the same function of shifting the line back and forth although not as positively as the nut and arm and therefore I do not wish to limitmyself to the exact construction and arrangement of this and other parts of the reel.

What I claim is:

l. In combination with a sh rod, a reel frame movable in reverse directions along and upon the exterior of the rod, a reel in the frame, connections between the rod and reel for imparting rotary motion to said reel as the frame is moved in either direction, screw on the frame, a line shifter on the screw and means coactin with a part of said connections for rotating the screw in reverse directions `as the frame is moved in opposite directions. H

2. In combination with a fish-rod, a reel support-ing frame movable in reverse directions along the rod, a reel in the frame having its axis at right angles to the rod, connections between the reel and rod for imparting rotary motion to the reel as the frame is moved in either direction, a screw on the frame parallel with the axis of the reel, means for rotating the screw in opposite directions as the frame is moved in reverse directions, and line shifting means actuated by the screw lengthwise of the reel.

3. In combination with a fish rod, a line reeling mechanism mounted on the rod and comprising a reel-supporting frame movable in reverse directions alon and upon thepexterior` of the rod, a reel Journaled in the frame wholly at one side of the rod and having its 'axis at right angles Vto that of the rod, connections between the reel and rod for imparting rotary motion to the reel as the frame is moved in either direction, and means including a screw parallel with the axis of the reel for shifting the line lengthwise of the reel.

4. In combination with a' Afish rod, -al 4 65 toothed rack mounted P011 and @Xtendlig ,thejframe is 'moved -in eitherA direction,-

lengthwise lof the rod, areel-supporting frame movable in reverse directions along and upon the exterior of the rod lengthwise of the rack, a reel in the frame having its axis at right angles to the rack, connections between the rack and reel for imparting rotary motion to said reel as ,the frame `is moved in either direction, a screw journaled in the frame parallel with the axis of the reel, .connections between the screw and rack for rotating the screw as the frame is moved in either direction, and line shifting means actuated by the screw.

5. In combination withy a fish rod, a`

toothed rack mounted on the rod lengthwise thereof, a reel-supporting frame movable lengthwise o f the rack in reverse directions, a-reel mounted in the frame and having its axis at right angles to the rack, connections between the reel and rack for rotating the reel in one and the same direction as the frame is moved in either direction, a screw mounted in the frame parallel with the axis of the reel, connections between-l the Y screw and rack for rotating the screw in pposite directions as the frame is moved'in reverse directions, `and lineshifting means actuated by the screw. f

6. In combination with a fish rod having clamping members one of which is slidable endwise thereon toward and from the other clamping member, afoot piece loosely seated on the rodand 'engaged by said clamping members to holdit in place,.a toothed rackv having one end'detachably interlocked with the foot piece and its other end provided with a spring clamp embracing the rod and slidable thereon, a line reeling mechanism movable lengthwise of the rack and including a reel having operative connection with the rack to rotate the reel in one and the same direction as the reeling mechanism is moved lengthwise of the rod in either direction'. v

7. In combination with a fish rod, a line reeling mechanism comprising a toothed rack extending lengthwise of the rod and having one end provided with a spring clamp embracing said rod slidable thereon, movable means for detachably securing the opposite end of the rack to the rod, a reel frame movable in reverse directions vlengthwise of the rack, a reel in the frame having its axis at right angles to the rack, and connections between the toothed rack and ree-l for 'rotating the -latter' as the frame is moved, in'either direction.

8. In combination with a fish rod, a. reelsupporting frame movable lengthwise of the rodand'having an opening. inone side ,.thereof, a reel mounted inthe frame` and having its; axis at--right angles to that ofthe rod-,z-connecftions between 'the' reel and rod for imparting rotary mot-ion to the reel as said connections including a clutch, a spring pressed intofrictional contact with the reel and having a portion thereof projecting into'the openin Vin the frame, and means operable at will for forcin the clutch to its clutching position and or s imultaneously forcing the drag from its `dragging position.

9. A line reelingmechanism for fish rods comprising a reel and supporting frame therefor, a rock arm mounted on the frame coaxial with the reel and movable circumferentially to different positions, a drag lever on the rock arm and spring pressed into frictional engagement with the reel when `the rock arm is in one position, and coacting'lmembers on the frame and drag lever for forcing the drag lever from its dragging position when the rock arm is shifted to another position for permitting the free rotation of the reel. p

10. A line mechanism for fish rods comprising a reel and supporting frame therefor, a rock'arm mounted on the frame coaxial with the reel and movable circumferentially to different positions. a drag lever of the rock 'arm to still another position for producing audible clicks when the reel is rotated. A

11. In aline reeling mechanism, a reel and supporting frame therefor, a ratchet wheel on the reel. a rock arm journaled on the frame coaxial with-the reel, and movable at will circumferentially to different radial positions, a pawl supporting member pivoted to the rock arm, a pawl pivoted to said member and engaging t-he teeth of the ratchet wheel when the arm is in one position for producing an audibleclick as the reel is rotated. and means for rocking the pawl supporting member to disengage the pawl from the ratchet wheel when the rocking member is shifted to another position.

12. In a line reeling mechanism for lfish rods, a reel and a supporting frame therefor having a slot in one side, a rock arm coaxial with the reel and movable in said slot to a central posit-ion and to opposite end positions, a drag, and a clicking device both mounted upon the rock arm, means for forcing the drag to its dragging position when the rock larm is in its central' 'position with reference to the slot, additionall means for forcing the clicking device t'o itsclicking position when the rock arm 1s moved to one end lof the slot, and separate means for forcing the dra from Aits dragging position and also for orcing the clicking device from its clicking position when the rock lever is moved to the opposite end of the slot.

13. In `combination with a. fish rod, a-

reel-suppo-rting frame movable in reverse directions along and upon the exterior of the rod, adriving shaft, a rotary element 'and connections between said element and the shaft for imparting rotary motion to said `element as the frame is moved in either direction, spool flanges connected to each other and loosely mounted upon said rotary element forindependent rotary movement, -and 'slip connect-ions between the spool and said rotary element.

14. In"a line reeling mechanism, a driving shaft, a -hub loosely mounted on the shaft,y clutch connect-ions between the shaft and hub, spool flanges connected to eachy `is moved in either direction, a tubular hub journaled in the frame and surrounding the shaft, clutch connection between the shaft and hub, spool flanges connected. to

each other and loosely mounted on the hub for independent rotation, a ratchet rigid on the hub, a pawl connected to one of the flanges and spring pressed into engagement with the ratchet wheel, a screw journaled in the frame parallel with the driving shaft, connections between the ralck and screw for rotating said screw in reverse directions as the direction of movement of the frame is reversed, and a line shifting device actuatedback and forth by the screw along the reel.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this eighteenth'day of March 1911.

JOHN A. RICKET'TS.

Witnesses: A

M. SCHOENEBERG, LoREN N. RoBnINs. 

